Compressor



Dec. 24, 1929. H. c. KELLOGG C OMPRE S S OR Original Filed March 9, 1925Im/erdZF.

Patented 'Dec. 24, 1929 HERB! C. mLOGG, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN COMPRESSOROriginal application filed March 9, 1925, Serial No. 14,180. Divided andthis application filed September 16, 1927. Serial No. 219,900.

This inventionv relates generally to improvements in compressors andmoreparticularly to compressors having special utility in refrigeratingsystems of the character described and claimed in my co-pendingapplication, Serial N 0. 14,180, filed March 9, 1925, of whichthepresent is a divisional application.

An object of the invention is to provide a mself-contained automatic,double acting, fluid operated and hermetically sealed compressor unitfor use in refrigerating and other systems wherein a compression effectis desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compressor unit desiredfor use in re-' frigerating and other systems and in which running wateravailable from a city main is utilized to operate the compressor unit.

Another object of the invention is to pro- 'vide a combined fluid motorand compressor unit to thereby eliminate separate motor and compressorunits.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compressor in whichstuffing boxes are entirely eliminated, to thus do away with loss ofefliciency due to friction or leaks, or time spent in adjusting thestufling boxes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compressor unitapplicable for use 30,with a refrigerating machine in which the motivepower mechanism is contained within the machine, thus eliminating allexternal mechanical power transmitting connections, and reducing thenumber of working parts to a minimum.

These and other objects will become more apparent from the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the drawingsaccompanying this description,

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section in a vertical plane thru thecompressor and motor unit in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail section of the cylindrical slide valve showing theports in another position;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section showing a fragment of the flexibleenclosing casing and shell wall and the guide ring;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section shown on an enlarged scale and taken onthe line 44 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a-detail elevational view of the piston valve.

Referring now to the drawings, the com- .pressor unit, generallydesignated by the reference character 8, is constructed about atransverse dividing member or valve housing 11 (Fig. 4) to each end ofwhich are secured water receiving cylindrical shells 12 and 13'. Theseshells are secured by bolts or the like extending through apertures inexternal flanges 14 and 15 formed preferably integralwith the shells,and engaging in tapped holes in said valve housing 11.

Compressor cylinders 16 and 17 of a smaller diameter than the shells,are secured to the opposite ends of the shells 12 and 13 respectively,by cap screws or the like passing through apertures in external flanges18 and 19 formed on the ends of said compressor cylinders and engagingin tapped holes in external flanges 20 and 21 on the water retainingshells 12 and 13. Tapped bosses 20' are provided on the bottom of eachshell and carry a pipe plug to permit drawing of the oil, which forms aseal as hereinafter described.

The outer end of each of the compressor cylinders is closed bya wall 26preferably formed integrally therewith as shown, but a separate head maybe provided if desired; In each of said walls or heads two tapped holesare provided, one to receive an inlet valve and the other to receive anoutlet valve which will later be described.

A pair of pistons 22 and 23 are securely fixed to the opposite ends of ahollow piston rod 24 in any approved manner, but as here illustrated aboss 25 is formed on the rear side of each piston having a central boreconcentric with the outer diameter of the piston to surround said pistonrod. Each piston is held in place securely against axial displacement bya counter-sunk machine screw extending through the end wall or head 23of the piston and threading into said piston rod.

The two pistons 22 and 23 are each provided with external flanges 27 and28 respectively and are also provided with piston rings 29 to preventleakage of the gas into the water cylin ers or oil compartments.

Confined between the two pistons 2223 and the central valve housing 11are annular extensible-bellows members 12 and 13, forming a flexibleenclosing casing. Each extensible member has a guided supportintermediate its ends on a reciprocable guide ring 31 having slidingmotion in the cylindrical shells 12 and 13'. These guide rings areprovided with spaced guide projections between which occur spaces topermit the oil to pass freely from one side to the other of these guiderings. The ends of the exteni ,sible members are secured to the flanges27 and 28 of the pistons 22 and 23 and to the walls'of the valve housing11, so as to be free to expand and contract'alternately with thereciprocation of the pistons, thus forming a hermetic seal forpreventing the contents of the various compartments escaping.

A substantially hollow cylindrical piston valve 32 is reciprocatinglymounted in a longitudinal bore in the operating fluid chest 40 25 ofvalve housing 11. The end portions of the piston valve 32 are turneddown to a reduced diameter to form annular grooves 33 and 34 adapted toregister with ports in the cylindrical fluid chest 40 formed integralwith the so valve housing 11. The'central portion of said piston valveis turned down to form a central annular groove 36 which communicates atspaced points with its central bore, or which may be made in halves andjoined together by connecting rods 37 as illustrated in Figs. 4

and 5. v

A pair of internal annular grooves 38, 39 are formed in the cylindricalchest 40 adjacent one end, and another set of internal annular. grooves41and 42 are provided adjacent its other end. The grooves 39 and 42 bothopen downwardly through ports 39' and 42 to the power chambers definedwithin the bellows or extensible members 12 and 13.

An outlet nozzle 43 is formed in the bottom of the valve housing 11 andhas a branch 44 leading to one side of the center line of the housing tothe fluid chest 40 and another branch 45 leading to the opposite side ofthe center line of said chest to open into the internal grooves 38 and41 respectively. When the slide valve is in the positionshown'in Fig. 1the groove 33 will place both grooves 41 and 42 in communication,therebyudischarging the left hand power chamber while.

when the slide valve is in the position shown in Fig. 2 it willdischarge the right hand power chamber.

Ports 46 and 47 are formed in the fluid chest 40, one at each side ofthe inlet nozzle 50, to alternately admit fluid under pressure from theinlet nozzle through the central groove 36 to the power chambers 12 and13.

The heads 48 and 49 are each provided with internal threads to engageexternal threads I on the ends of thevalve chest 40. A central bore isprovided in each head to slidably ad- 'mit the hollow piston rod 24.Bores 51 and 52 are also provided in the heads 48 and 49 respectivelyand outlets. from each of said bores connect to pipes or tubes 53and 54communicating with the outlet nozzle 43.

Small lugs 55 are provided on the inner sides of heads 48 and 49 toprovide clearance and give sufficient area for the passage of the fluid,to and from the hollow piston rodcom-J partments, when the piston valveis in its extreme positions.

The hollow boreof the piston rod 24 has two dividing walls 56 and 56dividing itinto three compartments 57, 58 and 59. The centralcompartment 58 has a plurality of .small holes drilled through it in thesame vertical plane to form the series of ports B. To the left of theseries of ports B a similar series A is provided and to the right ofseries B two more series C, D are provided. Each The refrigerant to becompressed enters the compressor cylinders alternately through inletvalves 63 and 64. Each inlet valve comprises a valve housing 65 havingone end of reduced diameter. threaded to engage a tapped hole in thecylinder end wall. The other end of said housing is of reduced diameterand is externally threaded to engage the internally threaded cap 66which forms a pressure joint between the housing portion 65 and the tube67. The spring and ball check are held in position by a bushing 70 whichscrews into the end of the valve housing.

The compressed refrigerant leaves the cylinders 16 and 17 respectivelythrough outlet valves 68 and 69. These exhaust valves 68 and 69 are ofsimilar construction to the inlet valves except that the spring in thesevalves is at the opposite end of the ball exerting a pressure inwardly.

lVith the parts of the device in the position indicated in Fig. 1 fluidunder pressure enters the valve housing 11 throughadmission port 50which may be connected with the city water supply or the like, and flowsaround the central annular groove 36 of the slide valve 32, and outthrough inlet port 47 in the valve chest 40, into the right handexpansion chamber 13 until the piston 23 has been forced to the end ofits stroke. At this time the piston 23 has completed a compressionstroke and the piston 22 has completed an intake stroke.

When the pistons move to this position the from the central groove 36 ofthe piston valve communicating with the series of ports 13. Thewater-will pass through the piston rod and out through port 1), which isin position to register with the space between the right hand end of thepiston valve 32 and the head 49 maintained by the lugs 55. As this spacefills with water it forces the piston valve 32 to the extreme left handposition shown in Fig. 2. This reciprocation of the piston valve to theleft is permitted at this time because the left hand end ofthe valvechamber is being vented through the ports E-E. These ports vent this endof the valve chamber into the pipe 53 and permit movement of the istonvalve in this direction.

hen the pistons reach the end of their movement in this direction theseries of ports F in piston rod compartment 59 is thereupon placed inregistry with the bore 52 in the head 49, and the other series of orts Fis placed in communication with t .e space formed between the end of thevalve 32 and said head 49. The fluid in this space enters compartment 59through the ports F and drains out through the other ports 5" passing tothe outlet nozzle 43 through the tube 5% provided for that purpose.Simultaneously therewith, the working fluid is admitted to the other endof the piston valve, through the series of ports A an consequently thepiston valve is reciprocated to the right.

This movement of the valve operates to admit the working fluid to theright hand chamber 13 through ports 50 and 4:7 and to exhaust theworking fluid from the left hand chamber 12 through ports 42' and 45which results in the two pistons 22 and 23 moving to the right. Thisbrings us back to the point at which we started and completes a cycle ofthe compressor.

A supply of oil is provided between the flexible casing members 12 and13 and their respective enclosing shells 12 and 13 and the pipes 73 forma connection (not shown) between both shells to permit the oil to betransferred from one shell or the other as the pistons reciprocate, thusforming a seal to prevent escape of the refrigerant, an absorbing mediumfor any small leakage of refrigerant and a source of lubricant for thepistons. Suitable means are provided in said line for supplying theseshells with oil.

The compressor unit is mounted on any approved base, such as byreference to my copending application, a cooler 74 by a connection 75which forms a passage permitting the water leaving the compressorhousing to enter said base or cooler.

It will be apparent that with the above construction the objects of theinvention are readily attained in a simple and eflicient manner. Thecombined fluid motor and compressor unit is self-contained, compact andrugged, and as its motive fluid is available from a ready source such asa city water main, the unit is well adapted for many uses where aneflicient and economical operation of com pressor is desired.

1 do not intend to be limited to the particular details herein shown anddescribed, as it will be obvious that the fore oing is merely anexemplary embodiment of the invention.

I claim:

1. In compressor apparatus of the class de shells supported insubstantial alignment,

compressor cylinders supported by opposite valves associated with saidcylinders for admitting and discharging the fluid being compressed toand from said cylinders, a transverse dividing member between saidshells and to which said shells are secured, extensible membersconnected to said dividing member and to said pistons, valve mechanismcarried by said transverse dividing member for controlling the admissionand discharge of a working fluid to and from said extensible members,and means operating with said pistons for controlling said valvemechanism.

3. In compressor apparatus of the class described, the combination ofcompressor cylinders supported in substantial alignment with their openends facing each other, pistons in said cylinders, said cylinders beingadapted to receive and discharge a fluid being compressed, a transversedividing member supported between the open ends of said cylinders,extensible members connected to said transverse dividing member and saidpistons, a valve chest supported by said transverse dividing member, apiston valve reciprocably supported in said valve chest for controllingthe admission and discharge of a working fluid to and from saidextensible members, and a connecting rod extending between said pistonsand passing through said valve chest for controlling the operation ofsaid piston valve.

4. In compressor apparatus of the class described, the combination ofcompressor cylinders supported substantially in alignment, pistons insaid cylinders, extensible power chambers operatively connected to saidpistons, and valve mechanism enclosed Witlnn ends of said shells,pistons in said cylinders,

said power chambers for controlling the admission and discharge of aworking fluid to and from said power chambers.

5. In compressor apparatus of the class described, the combination ofcompressor cylinders supported in substantial alignment, pistons in saidcylinders, extensible members connected to said pistons and formingpower chambers, and valve mechanism sealed with- 6 in said extensiblemembers for controllingthe admission and discharge of a working uid toand from said members.

6. In compressor apparatus of the class described, the combination ofcompressor cylinders supported in substantial alignment, pistons in saidcylinders, a connecting rod having a hollow portion and extendingbetween said pistons, extensible members connected to said pistons andextending towards each other, means separating said extensible membersto define separate power chambers in said members, and valve mechanismaligned axially of said pistons and said extensible members forcontrolling the circulation of a working fluid through said members andoperable b fluid passing through said connecting rod 7. In compressorapparatus of he class described, the combination of compressor cylinderssupported in substantial alignment, pistons in said cylinders, valvemechanism in said cylinders, a transverse dividing member supportedbetween said cylinders, extensible members connected to said transversedividin member and to said pistons, said members belng of largerdiameter than said pistons, said valve mechanism comprising acylindrical valve chamber supported by said trans verse dividing member,ports in said valve chamber opening into said extensible members,apiston valve in said valve chamber controlling said ports, and aconnecting rod extending between said pistons and passing axiallythrough said piston valve for controlling the operation of the latter.

8. In compressor apparatus of the class described, the combination ofcompressor cylinders supported in substantial alignment, pistons in saidcylinders, a connecting rod having a hollow portion and extendingbetween said pistons, a transverse dividing member supported betweensaid cylinders, extensible members connected to said transverse dividingmember and to said pistons, cylinders surrounding said extensiblemembers and socured to said transverse dividing member, and valvemechanism supported by said transverse dividing member and operable byfluid passing through said connecting rod for conjtbrolling theoperation of said extensible memers.

9. In compressor apparatus of the class described, the combination ofcompressor cylinders supported in substantial alignment, pis- $5 tons insaid cylinders, extensible members a working fluid to said members,c'linders surrounding said members, and ui e rings attached to saidextensible mem ers intermediate their ends and having reciprocablesupport in said cylinders for supporting the intermediate portions ofsaid members.

11. In combination, a cylinder, a piston, a piston rod, an extensiblemember connected to said piston, a closure member for the other end ofsaid extensible member, valve mechanism supported by said closure memberfor controlling the admission of a working fluid to said member, andmeans responsive to the axial position or" said piston rod forcontrolling theoperation of said valve means.

12. In combination, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, valvemechanism for.

said cylinder, an extensible member connected to said. piston, a closuremember for closing the opposite end of said extensible member, valvemechanism supported by said closure member substantially axially of saidextensible member, said valve mechanism controlling the admission of aWorking fluid to said member, and a piston rod extending from saidpiston and controlling said valve mechanism.

13. In combination, a cylinder, a piston, valve means for said cylinder,an extensible member connected to said piston, means for closing theother end of said extensible mem ber, valve mechanism for admitting aworking fluid to said extensible member, a cylindrical chamber enclosingsaid member, and a guide ring operatively related to said extensiblemember and. having reciprocable guided support in said cylindricalchamber.

14. in compressor apparatus of the class described, the combination oftwo compresso'r cylinders supported in substantial align ment, pistonsin said cylinders, extensible members connected to said pistons, atransverse dividing member closing the adjacent ends of saidextensiblemembers, an admission passageway for a working fluid enteringsaid transverse dividing member, an ex haust passageway for the workingfluid in said transverse dividing member, a cylindrical valve chamber insaid dividing member,

a piston valve in said valve chamber, an admission port in said valvechamber communicating with said admission passageway, inlet ports insaid valve chamber opening into said extensible members on each side ofsaid central admission port, discharge ports in said valve chambercommunicating with said exhaust passageway, outlet ports in said valvechamber leading from said extensible members, and grooves in said pistonvalve for placing said admission port alternately in communication witheach of said inlet ports and for placing the outlet ports of saidextensible members alternately in communication with their respectivedischarge ports.

15. In compressor apparatus of the class described, the combination oftwo compressor cylinders supported in substantial alignment, pistons insaid cylinders, extensible members connected to said pistons, atransverse dividing member closing the adjacent ends of said extensiblemembers, an admission passageway for a working fluid enteringsaidtransverse dividing member, an exhaust passageway for the workingfluid in said transverse dividing member, a cylindrical valve chamber insaid dividing member,

a piston valve in said valve chamber, a central admission port in saidvalve chamber communicating with said admission passageway, inlet portsin said valve chamber openmg into said extensible members on each sideof said central admission port, laterally spaced discharge ports in saidvalve chamber communicating with said exhaust passageway, outlet portsin said valve chamber leading from said extensible members, grooves insaid piston valve for placing said admission port alternately incommunication with each of said inlet ports and for placing the outletports of said extensible members alternately in communication with theirrespective discharge ports, and a piston rod connecting said pistons andextending axially through said piston valve, said piston rod havingports therein for admitting the working fluid to opposite ends of saidpiston valve.

16. In compressor apparatus of the class described, the combination of apair of compressor cylinders supported in substantial alignment, pistonsin said cylinders, extensible members connected to said pistons, closuremeans for closing the adjacent ends of said extensible members, a valvechamber in said closure means, a supplying port opening into said valvechamber adapted to receive the working fluid under pressure, inlet ortsleading from said valve chamber to sai extensible members, outlet portsleading from said members to said valve chamber, an exhaust passagewayleading from said valve chamber, a. iston valve reciprocably supportedin said valve chamber having passageways therein for placing said ports1n selective communication alternately to admit the working fluid to oneof said extensible members and discharge it from the other, a connectingrod extending between said pis tons and passing axially through saidpiston valve, said connecting rod having a hollow portion divided into acentral compartment and end compartments, ports opening into saidcentral compartment adapted to admit the working fluid to one end ofsaid piston valve, and ports opening into said end compartments adaptedalternately to open the opposite ends of said valve chamber to exhaust.v

17. In a device ofthe class described, the combination of a valvehousing connected with a fluid supply under pressure, a valve mounted insaid housing, fluid receiving members secured to said housing, arrangedto have their contents communicated through the housing and piston rodto operate said valve, compressor cylinders provided with inlet andexhaust means and secured to the opposite ends of said receivingmembers, a hollow piston rod operatively mounted in said valve, andpistons fixedly secured on said piston rod.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature at 1609 First National BankBuilding, Detroit, Michigan.

HERBERT C. KELLGGG.

